Thank you very much.
Evidence of meeting #23 for Veterans Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was going.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #23 for Veterans Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was going.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Thank you.
It is encouraging to hear about some of the potential we have to deal much better with our veterans in meeting their needs in a real way.
First of all, Trevor, you talked about the paid professionals you have working with you. I saw excitement when you were talking about them and the volunteer side of what they do. These are people employed by your business. Correct?
4:45 p.m.
Veteran, Trauma Healing Centers
I have 35 employees right now. That includes six physicians.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Around this table we've heard that it's difficult in a lot of situations for OSI clinics and things to find the people willing to serve in those roles, and yet here you are...
4:45 p.m.
Veteran, Trauma Healing Centers
That's because I'm willing to pay them a lot more than they deserve, but if that's what it takes to have a veteran come in and not commit suicide on my watch, then I'll pay every dollar.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Okay. As a businessman you're able to do that and be successful, and yet it seems that we have issues on the other side of paying. The challenge is that these are people who are professionals. They can earn a good income over here, and you know the usual situation of earning less here. You see the value then in making sure that they're paid well, even though from your perspective it's too high.
4:45 p.m.
Veteran, Trauma Healing Centers
I don't have a choice. If I don't have a doctor, then they're not getting help.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Okay. They're committed to their roles and your business. You seem pleased with how they're meeting your expectations.
4:45 p.m.
Veteran, Trauma Healing Centers
If I had more doctors, then I could have an office in every city in Canada, but we're having as much difficulty as you guys are.
4:45 p.m.
Veteran, Trauma Healing Centers
Yes, we do have to pay them more, but I walk into a doctor's office and I ask him for one or two days a month. That's all I'm asking for, one to two days a month. I'll fill your schedule. You come in. You see the patients. You take care of them. We'll pay you.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
4:45 p.m.
Veteran, Trauma Healing Centers
We have to pay more in order to get them to work.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Right. Okay.
You mentioned that you were having trouble getting on this list with VAC to be a referred source.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Right. I don't know if this committee is aware of how many groups are on that list, how they got on there, and what the criteria are. Were you given—
4:45 p.m.
Veteran, Trauma Healing Centers
I don't have an answer to that. My operations manager has done all the applications for four of the clinics, but I don't have an answer for that one. I'm not sure exactly what it takes.
I know that you do have to have a certain number of services and a certain types of services. If you meet a few of those, then you're multidisciplinary, which we do.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Okay. I have another challenge, I'm from Saskatchewan. We don't have an OSI clinic in our province. We have people who need help, and their travel is not covered to get to see their psychiatrists or psychologists. It's interesting that in the circumstances—
4:45 p.m.
Veteran, Trauma Healing Centers
We're trying to bring on some telemedicine to help those people who are in the outlying areas. For example, my brother has an eight-hour drive to see a psychologist.
